IN-FLIGHT REFUELING / AERIAL REFUELING

We have the experience to meet your in-flight refueling mission needs with system capabilities to refuel both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. DIMO Corp. is a distributor for Cobham Mission Equipment / Sargent Fletcher parts & components.

DIMO Corp. can supply replacement parts for the below mentioned in-flight refueling systems, this will include all replacement piece parts and overhaul repair capabilities for sub-system accessories and components. We are also capable of supporting C-130 repair and overhaul of parts and components.

Refueling Pods
Wing-tip aerial refueling pods are designed as a ready interface for aircraft tanker conversion. The pods, self-powered by a Ram Air Turbine, feature a hose-and-drogue refueling system and an integral fuel boost pump which provides a fuel transfer capability up to 450 GPM (1703 L/min) at 45 to 55 PSI (310 to 379 kPa).

Buddy StoresCobham / Sargent Fletcher is the world leader in buddy-store technology. The buddy store is a combination external fuel tank and hose reel mounted on tactical aircraft. The 31-301 buddy store is used extensively by the U.S. Navy, converting the S-3 and F/A-18E/F into tactical tankers. The 31-301 is also being considered for a similar role on the Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft. The 31-300 Series Buddy Store can be used on the A-4 and A-6 for in-flight refueling integration.

Fuselage Refueling and Hose Drum Units
Adaptable to many different platforms, fuselage refueling and hose drum units provide Tanker Aircraft to Receiver Aircraft probe and drogue refueling. Mounted in the aircraft or in a wing mounted pod, the unit becomes a subsystem installed on a tanker aircraft.

Cobham / Sargent Fletcher manufactures various fuselage-mounted hose reels. For example, the FR600 hose reel is mounted in the fuselage of the U.S. Air Force KC-10 tanker, making it suitable to refuel U.S. Navy and probe-equipped aircraft from various allied forces. The Omega Tanker/Transport conversion of the Boeing 707-300 aircraft features multiple Cobham / Sargent Fletcher FR300 Hose Reel systems installed in what was formerly the aft baggage compartment. Recent U.S. Navy flight tests, with the Omega successfully refueling F/A-18 aircraft, have shown fuel transfer rates in excess of 500 GPM.

DroguesAll Cobham / Sargent Fletcher drogues have unique patented ‘low Foreign Object Damage’ construction which eliminates any parts that would cause receiver engine damage in case of breakage. There are currently 3 different types of drogue available; fixed geometry, low speed variable drag, and high speed variable drag. An all speed variable drag drogue is currently under development. The high speed drogues are all compatible with NATO STANAG 3447 compliant probes, with the low speed VDD being compatible with all Helicopter and Tilt Rotor probes.

External Aircraft Fuel Tanks
Cobham / Sargent Fletcher has designed, qualified, and manufactured more than 30,000 370-gallon wing tanks and pylons for the F-16 aircraft, more than 8000 600-gallon tanks for the F-15 aircraft, more than 3000 275-gallon centerline/wing tanks for the F-5 aircraft, and more than 400 330-gallon centerline/wing tanks for the F/A-18 aircraft.

Cobham / Sargent Fletcher has produced external fuel tanks for USAF fighter aircraft dating back to the P-38.

In addition to external fuel tanks for fighter aircraft, Cobham / Sargent Fletcher also produces the 1360-gallon tank for the C-130 transport, as well as, a complete line of double-walled, internal fuel tanks for commercial aircraft.

Aircraft Special Purpose Pods & Pylons
Special Purpose Pods and Pylons are used as permanent and/or temporary installation on applicable aircraft for special missions. All pods and pylons are built to military specifications containing the mounting structure to secure the mission payload components. With primary and secondary structure, the pods and pylons exhibit a service life relative to repeated air loads, vibratory forces and thermal loads. Accessibility to internal components plays a major role in location and design of removable access panels to ensure maintainability of both pods and pylons.

Since the start of building specialized aircraft captive carry pods in the 1960s, Cobham / Sargent Fletcher has built over 1000 pods with functions covering Reconnaissance, Jamming, Data Link, Instrumentation, Electro Optical, and a host of other functions.